Extracted Text

The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:

Notes and Documents

When the men were formed next morning he came forward anddelivered a lecture on the necessity and importance of discipline onsubordination and a due respect for the opinion and order of theirofficer, &c.That from his intercourse and conversation with Governor Salcedo,he had full confidence in his word of honor, that they should not bemolested on their return home. He urged them to consider well, forthe next two days, their exposed and critical situation-their supplyof beef was nearly exhausted-themselves exposed by night alarmsfrom without tormented by vermin within their quarters surroundedby a well armed force of more than six times their number.On the third morning he demanded their final answer and pro-posed, that all who were in favour of accepting the conditions ofsurrender should shoulder arms. There was not one gun raised fromthe ground, Magee retired to his quarters much dejected.A few mornings subsequently he came out on parade and proposedto the men that they should make provision for their journey andabandon the fort in the night and return home. This proposition wasentertained by all. They would have their arms to defend themselvesif needed or kill game for their support if not molested. And prepara-tion were accordingly made by preparing parched corn meal andjerked beef, which served them for rations in the fort for a week after-wards (see foregoing sketch) If my recollection is not greatly at fault,Mr. Hall came out from Nacogdoches with Major Ross and did notarrive at La Bahia until a few days before the Americans marched forSan Antonio and had been misinformed of the occurances there pre-viously to his arrival.16' If so, he should correct these numerous andgross errors and remove the cloud that has too long obscured thisimportant chapter of Texas history."6The Americans had neither cannon nor carronades in the fort, ex-cept one little 3 pound piece which was not fired but once to myrecollection, nor, did the enemy ever display more than three duringthe seige. The Americans found but six cannon on the battle fieldat the Salado or at San Antonio.They captured two small pieces from Elisondo but never usedthem.'6" Nor did I ever see any such battles as Hall and Yoakuml67According to a statement of service signed by Henry Perry, Hall enrolled inthe republican army on August 2o, 1812. Gulick and others, Lamar Papers, I, 4.68eA new installment of the "Review of Erroneous History" begins at this point,appearing in the San Antonio Tri-Weekly Alamo Express, March 1, 1861.'6SIn the matter of cannon, McLane seems to be at fault. Villars states thatthe expedition had three small cannon when they left Trinidad, two four-poundersand one smaller. He also says that when the Spaniards arrived, the Americans setabout repairing the fort and mounted their cannon on new bastions which theybuilt, and that the first shot from an American cannon took off the head of aMexican, spreading consternation in the Spanish ranks. After leaving La Bahia,